Alston vindicated in New York assault case

The charges in New York against Rockets guard Rafer Alston were dropped Friday, Alston's attorney, Al Ebanks, said.

Alston was arrested in August and charged with assault after an alleged incident in a New York club.

On Jan. 3, the case was adjourned until April, but the district attorney's office asked Friday that the charges be dropped.

"We went into court, and the DA office indicated that all charges be dismissed based on their investigation," Ebanks said. "They did not feel this is a case that should go forward. We're obviously pleased with the outcome, as pleased as can be when the case had no merit and understand should never have been charged in the first place."

Alston is having perhaps his best NBA season, which Ebanks said indicated Alston's "grace under pressure."

"Tough times and perils do not create character; they reveal it," Ebanks said.

Alston said he was never worried.

"Al and a lot of my family members were worried if I could go on with the season, would it be on my mind," Alston said. "When you know you didn't do anything, I just waited for it to be over and came in and focused on basketball.

"You can deal with things when you know you didn't do it. Now the whole case is over with, and they want to keep it silent. I was on the front page when it happened.

"Now when it's dropped they want to keep it silent. That's OK. I can deal with that. That's not who I am."